Electronic data storage medium with fingerprint verification capability

ABSTRACT

An electronic data storage medium is adapted to be accessed by a data terminal, and includes a processing unit connected to a memory device that stores a data file and security reference data possessed by a person authorized to access the data file, and an input-output interface circuit activable so as to establish communication with the data terminal. The processing unit is operable selectively in a programming mode and a data retrieving mode. The electronic data storage medium also includes a function key set for manually switching the electronic data storage medium between the programming mode and the data retrieving mode.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a divisional application of U.S. patent applicationfor “ELECTRONIC DATA STORAGE MEDIUM WITH FINGERPRINT VERIFICATIONCAPABILITY”, U.S. application Ser. No. 11/624,667, filed Jan. 18, 2007,which is a divisional of U.S. patent application for “ELECTRONIC DATASTORAGE MEDIUM WITH FINGERPRINT VERIFICATION CAPABILITY”, U.S.application Ser. No. 09/478,720, filed Jan. 6, 2000.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The invention relates to an electronic data storage medium, moreparticularly to an electronic data storage medium with a fingerprintverification capability.

2. Description of the Related Art

At present, confidential data files are stored in floppy disks or aredelivered via networks that require passwords or that use encryptioncoding for security. Confidential documents can be sent by adding safetyseals and impressions during delivering. However, the aforesaid areexposed to the risks of breaking of the passwords, encryption codes,safety seals and impressions, thereby resulting in unsecure transfer ofinformation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Therefore, the object of the present invention is to provide anelectronic data storage medium with a fingerprint verificationcapability for security during the transfer of information.

According to the present invention, an electronic data storage medium isadapted to be accessed by a data terminal. The electronic data storagemedium includes a memory device, a fingerprint sensor, an input-outputinterface circuit and a processing unit.

The memory device stores a data file and fingerprint reference dataobtained by scanning a fingerprint of a person authorized to access thedata file.

The fingerprint sensor is adapted to scan a fingerprint of a user of theelectronic data storage medium and to generate fingerprint scan data.

The input/output interface circuit is activable so as to establishcommunication with the data terminal.

The processing unit is connected to the memory device, the fingerprintsensor and the input/output interface circuit. The processing unit isoperable selectively in a programming mode, where the processing unitactivates the input/output interface circuit to receive the data fileand the fingerprint reference data from the data terminal, and to storethe data file and the fingerprint reference data in the memory device,and a data retrieving mode, where the processing unit receives thefingerprint scan data from the fingerprint sensor, compares thefingerprint scan data with the fingerprint reference data in the memorydevice to verify if the user of the electronic data storage medium isauthorized to access the data file stored in the memory device, andactivates the input/output interface circuit to transmit the data fileto the data terminal upon verifying that the user of the electronic datastorage medium is authorized to access the data file stored in thememory device.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

Other features and advantages of the present invention will becomeapparent in the following detailed description of the preferredembodiment with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic circuit block diagram illustrating the preferredembodiment of an electronic data storage medium according to the presentinvention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to FIG. 1, according to the preferred embodiment of thepresent invention, an electronic data storage medium is adapted to beaccessed by an external computer 9, and is shown to include a card body1, a processing unit 2, a memory device 3, a fingerprint sensor 4, aninput/output interface circuit 5, a display unit 6, a power source 7,and a function key set 8.

The memory device 3, such as a flash memory device, is mounted on thecard body 1, and stores a data file, a reference password, andfingerprint reference data obtained by scanning a fingerprint of aperson authorized to access the data file in a known manner therein. Thedata file can be a picture file or a text file.

The fingerprint sensor 4 is mounted on the card body 1, and is adaptedto scan a fingerprint of a user of the electronic data storage mediumand to generate fingerprint scan data. One example of the fingerprintsensor 4 that can be used in the present invention is that disclosed ina co-owned U.S. Pat. No. 6,547,130, entitled “INTEGRATED CIRCUIT CARDWITH FINGERPRINT VERIFICATION CAPABILITY”, the entire disclosure ofwhich is incorporated herein by reference.

The input/output interface circuit 5, such as a PCMCIA or RS232interface, is mounted on the card body 1, and is activable so as toestablish communication with the external computer 9.

The processing unit 2 is mounted on the card body 1, and is connected tothe memory device 3, the fingerprint sensor 4 and the input/outputinterface circuit 5. The processing unit 2 is operable selectively in: aprogramming mode, where the processing unit 2 activates the input/outputinterface circuit 5 to receive the data file and the fingerprintreference data from the external computer 9, and to store the data fileand the fingerprint reference data in the memory device 3 in acompressed format to increase storage capacity of the memory device 3; adata retrieving mode, where the processing unit 2 receives thefingerprint scan data from the fingerprint sensor 4, compares thefingerprint scan data with at least a segment of the fingerprintreference data in the memory device 3 to verify if the user of theelectronic data storage medium is authorized to access the data filestored in the memory device 3, and activates the input/output interfacecircuit 5 to transmit the data file to the external computer 9 uponverifying that the user of the electronic data storage medium isauthorized to access the data file stored in the memory device 3; and adata resetting mode, where the data file and the finger reference dataare erased from the memory device 3.

The power source 7 is mounted on the card body 1, and is connected tothe processing unit 2 for supplying electrical power thereto.

The function key set 8, which is mounted on the card body 1, isconnected to the processing unit 2, and is operable so as to initiateoperation of the processing unit 2 in a selected one of the programming,data retrieving and data resetting modes. The function key set 8 isoperable to provide an input password to the processing unit 2. Theprocessing unit 2 compares the input password with the referencepassword in the memory device 3, and initiates operation in the dataresetting mode upon verifying that the input password corresponds withthe reference password.

The display unit 6 is mounted on the card body 1, and is connected toand controlled by the processing unit 2 for showing the data fileexchanged with the external computer 9 and the operating status of theelectronic data storage medium thereon.

Preferably, the processing unit 2 automatically initiates operation inthe data resetting mode upon detecting that a preset time period haselapsed since storage of the data file and the fingerprint referencedata in the memory device 3.

The following are some of the advantages of the present invention:

The electronic data storage medium has a small volume but a largestorage capability in a compressed format, thereby resulting inconvenience during data transfer.

Since everyone has a fingerprint different from that of the others, theelectronic data storage card medium only permits authorized persons toaccess the data files stored therein, thereby resulting in enhancedsecurity.

While the present invention has been described in connection with whatis considered the most practical and preferred embodiment, it isunderstood that this invention is not limited to the disclosedembodiment but is intended to cover various arrangements included withinthe spirit and scope of the broadest interpretation so as to encompassall such modifications and equivalent arrangements.

1. An electronic data storage medium adapted to be accessed by a dataterminal, said electronic data storage medium comprising: a card bodyusable as a substrate; a non-volatile memory device, mounted on saidcard body, for storing data file and reference data possessed by aperson authorized to access the data file, wherein the data file andreference data are stored and located in different sectors of saidnon-volatile memory device, wherein said non-volatile memory device is aflash memory, which includes both single-level-cell (SLC) andmulti-level-cell (MLC) flash memory devices; security means for enteringa password into the electronic data storage medium for matching with thereference data stored in said non-volatile memory device and serving asthe encryption or decryption key for the data file to be accessed; aninput/output interface circuit, mounted on said card body, forestablishing communication with the data terminal, wherein saidinput/output interface circuit is a card reader interface circuit whichcomprises of a Universal Serial Bus interface circuit; a processingunit, mounted on said card body, coupled to said non-volatile memorydevice, said security means, and said input/output interface circuit;means for mode switching of the electronic data storage medium among theprogramming mode, the data retrieving mode, and the data resetting mode;means for controlling said processing unit when the electronic datastorage medium is in the programming mode such that when the passwordentered through said security means matches with the reference datastored in said non-volatile memory device, the processing unit transfersfrom the data terminal at least one of the data file and the referencedata through the input/output interface circuit, encrypts the data file,then writes said at least one of the encrypted data file and thereference data into said non-volatile memory device; and means forcontrolling said processing unit when the electronic data storage mediumis in the data retrieving mode such that when the password enteredthrough said security means matches with the reference data stored insaid non-volatile memory device, the processing unit fetches at leastone of the encrypted data file and the reference data stored in saidnon-volatile memory device, decrypts the data file, then transfers saidat least one of the decrypted data file and the reference data to thedata terminal through the input/output interface circuit.